GAME REPORT

Unbeaten Fener Spoil Dikeoulakos Debut

Fenerbahce didn't have it all their own way but nevertheless kept their unbeaten record in the EuroLeague Women intact with a 77-64 triumph at Lotos Gdynia on Thursday night.

Playing in their first European game since the termination of Diana Taurasi's contract following her positive doping test, Fener got 19 points from Nevriye Yilmaz and 16 apiece from Penny Taylor and former Gdynia center Ivana Matovic.

Matovic also ruled the low post, corralling a game-high 15 rebounds.

The triumph was a ninth in a row for the Turkish club, which will now try to seal first place in Group B when they host UMMC Ekaterinburg next week.

George Dikeoulakos, the Latvia national team coach who famously led Sony Athinaikos to a Greek Cup, EuroCup Women and Greek domestic league treble last season, was handed the reins to Lotos over the winter break.

Wednesday marked the first time the Greek had coached in the EuroLeague Women.

His team was knotted at 36-36 before a Yilmaz basket put Fener in front by two at half-time.

Twice the Poles reduced the arrears to one early in the third quarter but Laszlo Ratgeber's team had too many weapons and went on a decisive run with 8:46 to go in the frame.

Penny Taylor hit a jumper and Hana Horakova followed with a three-ball to start a 9-0 surger that put the visitors in command.

Lotos managed to close the gap to 56-47 with three minutes left in the third quarter but got no closer.

The home side got a game-high 23 points from Monica Wright and 21 from Elina Babkina.

Wright, who also had eight rebounds, turned the ball over nine times.

Lotos Gdynia are 1-8 and have no chance of progressing to the play-offs.

COACH QUOTES

Quotes Lotos Gdynia vs. Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce Head Coach Laszlo Ratgeber: "From the beginning, we knew what we come here and what we want to achieve in Gdynia. We wanted to win this game and all ten games. Now, after nine games we didn't lose any game so I'm happy. But after first half I wasn't. We have new players in the team and it's hard to play well. We don't have this chemistry which we need to play good basketball. I'm very happy with how Ivana Matovic played. She is with us from the beginning of the season and she knows how to play. But in the second half they played how they should. Also I would like to congratulate George Dikeoulakos and the Lotos team."

Fenerbahce player Ivana Matovic: "Congratulations to my team, now to my both teams. As the coach said, it's very good that we won this game. It was very important to us. We have few new players in our team and it's hard to play how we want. In the beginning, maybe we were a little bit tired but in the second half we felt very good on the court."

Lotos Gdynia Head Coach George Dikeoulakos: "After the game in the Polish league we had problems with our players. They didn't practice, for example Daria Mieloszyńska or Milka Bjelica. Since Monday we had only one normal practice. Today only eight players could play. But I want to thank my team. I'm very happy with how the girls played in the first half. They played with passion, with heart, very smart. In the second half they were tired and Fenerbahce were more focused. I wish all the best to Fenerbahce in the next round."

Lotos Gdynia player Monica Wright: "I think it was great game. Congratulations to both teams. Both played a good game. The first half was very good, but we haven't got a lot of players on the bench so it was difficult to play on the same lever for whole game. I wish the team a lot of success in the next games."